site around the pacemaker hurts

Hey there,
I have had my pacemaker for about 5 years now and recently have been feeling some dull pain/discomfert around the pace maker, sometimes i get pains in my left arm and some chest pain.. what could this mean? bad lead or need to change the pm? help please

3 Comments

probably ok but call anyway

by Tracey_E - 2008-11-15 08:11:06

Left arm and chest pain is ALWAYS a reason to call. It's probably nothing, but those are two symptoms you just don't mess around with.

It definitely does not mean you need a pm change, that's not the symptoms and you likely haven't had it long enough. When you get it checked, you can ask them about projected battery life so you have an idea what to expect.

The dull pain could be scar tissue around the pocket. Have you been exercising differently, anything that could aggravate the muscles around it? I recently had some similar discomfort. I was on the verge of asking my doctor when I had a lightbulb moment... I'd added the Wii boxing game to my workout routine. It went away in another week or two and now it's fine.

discomfort

by Tracey_E - 2008-11-15 08:11:18

forgot to add, you can use a heating pad on low for discomfort around the pocket. Or some feel better icing it. Try both and see if one or the other helps.

not unusual

by jeanmarie - 2008-11-15 08:11:53

I also have my pacemaker for about 6 years, and had complaints about the pain and discomfer around the pacemaker site, with some swelling, but they checked it an everything was ok, but it still happens on and off, they did give me medicine for the swelling, said could have a little infection around it...so good luck

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It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.